The Most Cake// Art Party… meet the artists – Laura Pannack

by Lemon Tart

I met Laura Pannack, 24, just over a year ago through a mutual friend when I still worked as a picture editor. She said, “I know this photographer, you should meet her – her work’s really beautiful.” And I thought, yeah yeah everyone knows a photographer who they think is great… (Seriously, I’d seen it all: portfolios filled with portraits of Eastenders cast members, 75% of portfolios looking like cheap copies of Terry Richardson or Tim Walker, people who hadn’t actually shot anything new for years and years, people who would only do a shoot if we provided a full vegan platter of nosh on the day… you get the picture).

But then I met Laura, and her work is ASTOUNDING. Well I’d kind of already guessed it would be because national papers and magazines were already commissioning her lots, and she was only 23 then. Her pieces capture the very subtle nuances of the human soul: our most internalised things that sometimes emerge on the surface – all then expressed through slight shifts of the eye, poses of the hands, or slants of the back.

Her best-known post-university project is called Young Love, a result of months spent getting to know teenagers who were experiencing their first taste of a relationship: two girls lying hand in hand on a windy heath, a boy staring out from behind his girlfriend’s embrace, and countless private embraces, hugs and kisses. All are undercut by Laura’s signature style: simple composition, natural light, and a strong emphasis on the quirks of someone’s character.

Another of my personal favourites is her recent work on young British naturists, for which she became completely submerged in their world for around a year, even stripping off herself to make sure they felt at ease with her. The photos are brilliant: excellent calm studies of each person’s quirks and acceptance of their nakedness. The project is just beginning to be covered in the media now, have a look at the BJP’s recent coverage of it: http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=873599

Laura is constantly churning out new work, commissioned and personal. I think the best way to follow her work is to look at her prolific blog. Here are some of my recent favourites:

And one of my favourite recently commissioned pieces: Gabourey Sidibe (star of Precious) for Dazed and Confused:

Oh and Laura’s favourite cake is Carrot Cake in case you were wondering.

Laura was recently announced the winner of the Portrait Singles section of the World Press Photo awards. She is represented by the Lisa Pritchard Agency. You can view more of her work here.

All photographs copyright of Laura Pannack.